[ad_pod ]

According to The Sun on Sunday (9/6, page 59), Aston Villa are interested in Coventry's Tom Bayliss this summer.

What's the word?

After Villa achieved promotion back to the Premier League, adding bodies to a squad that now looks particularly thin after player releases will be key.

No fewer than eight players were confirmed to be going through the exit door whilst Ross McCormack quickly made that nine.

Adding Anwar El Ghazi and Jota to their ranks will certainly help but bolstering their midfield area also looks to be a priority.

The Sun on Sunday (9/6, page 59), claims that Aston Villa are to battle it out for the signing of central midfielder Bayliss.

Also in the running for the 20-year-old's signature are West Ham.

Following in talented footsteps

Aston Villa's midfield is arguably the position in their squad that needs the least improvement.

Already containing Jack Grealish, John McGinn and Conor Hourihane, it's a talented area that most bottom end Premier League teams would be only too pleased to have.

However, the addition of Bayliss would make that even stronger.

A number of talented individuals have come through Coventry's ranks in recent years with Callum Wilson going onto star for Bournemouth.

The main candidate though is Leicester's James Maddison who has quickly become one of the division's brightest prospects.

Coming through the system at Coventry, he's one of the best creative outlets in the Premier League and is a prime example of the wonderful talent to come through the Sky Blues' academy.

Bayliss, therefore, could follow in his footsteps by making a move to Villa.

The midfielder is a handy player in defensive and attacking phases of the game, scoring three times in total for Coventry in League One last term. He also claimed three assists.

Given Dean Smith's record of nurturing young talent, this could be the ideal move for both player and manager.

He may not be the proven Premier League player that Villa are crying out for, but he's certainly one to watch for the future.

Judging by Coventry's track record of producing young players, this would be a particularly shrewd piece of business by the Villans if they did complete a deal.